New Guinea Impatiens plant `Kinoc`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Kinoc`, and to be marketed under the name `Noctua`, characterized by its magenta-colored flowers; freely flowering habit; outwardly spreading, mounded and rounded growth habit; freely branching plant habit; and dark green, glossy, non-variegated foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known a Impatiens hawkeri, which isto be internationally registered as `Kinoc`. It is anticipated that theplant will be marketed under the synonym `Noctua`. Hereinafter thedisclosed plant will be referred to as `Noctua`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new varieties that have a uniform plant habit,attractive flower colors, good flower form and numerous flowers perplant.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of aproprietary seedling selection identified as P229 as the male, or pollenparent, with the proprietary seedling selection identified as K523 asthe female, or seed patent. The cultivar Noctua was discovered andselected by the inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany. Asexualreproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atGensingen, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Noctua`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Noctua` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Magenta-colored flowers.

2. Freely flowering.

3. Outwardly spreading, rounded and mounded growth habit.

4. Freely branching plant habit.

5. Dark green, glossy, non-variegated foliage.

The new New Guinea Impatiens is similar in flower color to the NewGuinea Impatiens cultivar Anguilla (U.S. Plant patent applied for).However in side-by-side comparisons in Encinitas, Calif., undercommercial practice, plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens differedfrom plants of the cultivar `Anguilla` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens more outwardly spreading andmore rounded and mounded than plants of the cultivar `Anguilla`.

2. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are shorter than plants of thecultivar `Anguilla`.

3. The adaxial surface of mature leaves of plants of the new New GuineaImpatiens is dark green in color whereas the adaxial surface of matureleaves of plants of the cultivar `Anguilla` is dark red in color.

4. Plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are more freely flowering thanplants of the cultivar `Anguilla`. 5. Petal color of plants of the newNew Guinea Impatiens does not fade with age whereas petal color ofplants of the cultivar `Anguilla` fades with age.

6. Flower spurs of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens are shorterthan flower spurs of plants of the cultivar `Anguilla`.)

A detailed comparison of plants of the new New Guinea Impatiens and thecultivar `Anguilla` appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plantof `Noctua`.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of typical flowers andleaves of the varieties `Anguilla` (top of photo) and Noctua (bottom ofphoto).

The flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ from theactual colors due to light reflectance.

The cultivar `Noctua` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown 10-cm pots inEncinitas, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 23 to 29C. and nighttemperatures ranging from 16 to 18C. with light levels averaging 3,000footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Impatiens hawkeri.

Commercial.--New Guinea Impatiens `Kinoc`, sold under `Noctua`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary seedling selection P229.

Female parent.--Proprietary seedling selection K523.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 15 days with 21C. soil temperature.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Outwardly spreading, rounded and mounded.

Growth habit.--Moderately vigorous to vigorous. Freely branching, denseand bushy. Suitable for 10 to 25-cm containers.

Plant size.--Height: About 16 cm. Width or spread: About 26 cm.

Lateral branches.--Quantity: Six to eight. Size: Length: About 10 cm.Diameter: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 5 cm. Color: 59A.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant,opposite or in whorls of three, horizontal to plant and flat in aspect.Size, largest leaves: Length: About 12 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape:Ovate with acuminate apex, attenuate base and ciliate margin. Texture:Smooth, glossy. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 137A. Youngfoliage, lower surface: 147B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface:147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, uppersurface: 59B. Venation, lower surface: 59A. Petiole: Size: Length: About2.75 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: 59B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Magenta-colored flowers. Freely and continuouslyflowering. Flowers arise from leaf axils. Usually ten to twelve flowersper lateral branch. Flowers positioned above the foliage and face upwardor outward. Flowers slightly cupped to flat and rounded to rectangular.Flowers persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In thegarden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.--Length: About 6.5 cm. Width: About 6 cm. Depth: 3 mm.

Flower buds.--Size: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm. Shape:Ovoid. Color: Slightly redder than 57A.

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Size (largest petals): Length: Top petal: About2.8 cm. Middle petals: About 2.6 cm. Bottom petals: About 3.7 cm. Width:Top petal: About 4 cm. Middle petals: About 2.8 cm. Bottom petals: About3.8 cm. Shape: Cordate with emarginate apex, cuneate or obtuse base andentire margin. Texture: Velvety, smooth. Color: When opening, uppersurface: Iridescent, brighter and darker than 57A. When opening, lowersurface: Iridescent, 58B with 57A at edges. Fully opened, upper surface:Iridescent, brighter and darker than 57A with 66A centers. Fully opened,lower surface: Iridescent, slightly darker than 58B. Fading to: Colordoes not fade.

Spur.--Length: About 4.8 cm. Shape: Narrow and curved. Color: 59A.

Peduncles.--Length: 5.5 to 6 cm. Angle: Erect and outward. Strength:Strong. Color: 59A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five, anthers fused,filaments free. Anther shape: Obovate. Anther size: 6 by 4 mm. Anthercolor: Light cream. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color:Off-white/cream. Gynoecium: Five-loculate fused. Gynoecium length: About5 mm. Gynoecium color: 146B.

Disease resistance:

Under commercial conditions, resistance nor susceptibility to pathogenshas not been observed.

Seed development Seed production is not usually observed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARACTERISTIC                                                                              `NOCTUA`      `ANGUILLA`                                        ______________________________________                                        GROWTH HABIT  Outwardly spreading,                                                                        Upright to slightly                                             rounded and mounded                                                                         arching                                           PLANT HEIGHT  About 16 cm   About 18 cm                                       INTERNODE LENGTH                                                                            About 5 cm    About 4 cm                                        LEAF LENGTH   About 12 cm   About 10.5 cm                                     LEAF WIDTH    About 4 cm    About 4.5 cm                                      LEAF COLOR, MATURE,                                                                         147B          59A                                               LOWER SURFACE                                                                 PETIOLE LENGTH                                                                              About 2.75 cm About 3.75 cm                                     PETIOLE DIAMETER                                                                            About 3 mm    About 4 mm                                        QUANTITY OF   10 to 12      8 to 10                                           FLOWERS PER                                                                   LATERAL STEM                                                                  PETAL COLOR FADING                                                                          Color does not fade                                                                         Color fades with age                              SPUR LENGTH   About 4.8 cm  About 5.2 cm                                      PEDUNCLE LENGTH                                                                             5.5 to 6 cm   About 5 cm                                        PEDUNCLE COLOR                                                                              59A           60A                                               FLOWER BUD COLOR                                                                            Redder than 57A                                                                             Brighter than 61B                                 ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiensplant, as illustrated and described.